"Regarding you, I like everything."
BANG—
In front of Wan Qingzhai, a firework burst in the night sky.
The air was permeated with the smell of gunpowder, the sky filled with scattering colorful lights, and the joyful laughter and voices of the Star Moon Sect's disciples echoed in the ears.
The firelight reflected in Dan Wulan's eyes, shimmering like autumn water, and with half-open lips, she gently uttered these words.
There was no shyness, no blushing, as cold as ever, yet Su Bei could hear the emotional tone in her voice.
A glimmer of firelight was visible on the water's surface, climbing straight into the dark sky.
She had her suspicions about why Su Bei had given her the hairpin—meant for a pair—all by itself... but none of that mattered anymore. She was looking at Su Bei, waiting for his answer.
Su Bei looked at Dan Wulan, feeling the softness of her fingers, his heart trembling slightly. His mouth suddenly smiled, freely and naturally.
He thought his previous ideas were stupid, foolish, right?
Why would he think that way? Even if it weren't Dan Wulan, would he let go?
Many concepts can't be changed just because one wishes to. Upon reflection much later, he wondered what significance all those so-called principles held. His interest in her, even if it started from a misunderstanding, within this misunderstanding, in an inexplicable way, he had actually made his choice long ago.
As long as he was true to his own heart and true to hers, everything should take its natural course. Why get tangled up in so-called rules and rationale when one could follow the way of heaven? All according to the heart, all according to fate; perhaps this was the destiny that belonged solely to himself and her.
Immortal cultivation?
It's about being unrestrained, so why care about the opinions of others?
Even if it wasn't her that night, so what? Or even if it really was Mo Li, what then?
Would he distance himself from Dan Wulan because of this? Would he avoid Mo Li?
She was fond of him, and unknowingly, her image had filled his heart. He had never been a gentleman, just an ordinary person. He wouldn't get caught up in the so-called turmoil of romance novels, wondering what to do...
In the adult world, isn't there a saying? Children make choices; I want everything.
Moreover, right now all of this is just his own speculation; he isn't clear on everything...
Dan Wulan looked into Su Bei's eyes. He had not responded to her for a long time. A hint of disappointment flickered in her eyes as she lowered her gaze, suddenly feeling his hand slipping away from her fingers.
A trace of mist flashed in her eyes; this was rejection, wasn't it?
Her voice regained its coldness, a sourness welling in her heart. "It was I, your Junior Sister, who was being too bold..."
The next moment!
The moonlight was hazy, beneath the sky filled with fireworks.
Su Bei held her cheeks with both hands, leaning in amid the hazy shock in her eyes.
They could feel the hot breath between them, just like that night under Unrepentant Cliff: the same hazy moon, the same beautiful couple. The difference was the clear understanding in Su Bei's heart.
"Sudden... Mmm!"
In that quiet corner, Su Bei looked at her face in the dark, a vision of irresistible beauty and bashfulness, a sight likely no man could resist.
Lips intermingled.
Perhaps this was the best response he could give her.
Dan Wulan's body trembled, and then she closed her eyes, her beautiful ears flushing red as she slowly responded to his kiss.
This was something she had not felt the last time on Unrepentant Cliff. Indulging in this sensation, her mind gradually became intoxicated, as if suffocating.
Her face blushed like the sunrise, her eyes clear as water.
In her heart, there were no distractions, only thoughts of the man embracing her.
After the kiss.
Su Bei looked at the previously cold immortal now in his arms with a languid and intoxicated appearance, feeling rather proud.
"This is for the kiss you stole from your senior brother on Unrepentant Cliff last time!"
"Now I've given it back."
"..."
Dan Wulan hummed softly.
Su Bei, holding her waist, couldn't help but entertain a peculiar idea. Wanting to know who it was that night, wouldn't doing *that* again be the simplest and most direct way?
It seemed that Dan Wulan in his arms could definitely feel the heat from Su Bei. Struggling to stand up, she took a few steps back and looked at his face, "Can you give me some time?"
"At that time, I will give myself to you completely."
"..."
There was still a doubt in her heart she couldn't overcome.
Even though she knew his feelings, his heart couldn't possibly contain her alone. This was unfair to him, and to those other women. Perhaps... perhaps she would come to terms with it one day? Change for him? Try to accept everything about him? But it's really difficult.
Su Bei didn't approach her further, suppressing that trace of burning desire in his heart. He also knew that although the unspoken barrier between them had been broken, both still needed a little more time.
Looking up at the bright night sky, he strolled down the bustling long street with her tender hand in his. She naturally nestled against Su Bei's shoulder, the layer of separation between them gone.
"How is the Evil Qi inside your body?"
Su Bei gently kissed her forehead. Dan Wulan, feeling his tenderness, softly replied, "It's been suppressed. As long as there are no further serious injuries, it might gradually dissipate."
"..."
Su Bei hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "Do not force yourself in the arena battle. If you are overpowered, just admit defeat..."
Finally, he too had become like Wenren Pingxin; perhaps that's how one treats someone they care about...
Dan Wulan's lips curved slightly, but she did not respond.
"Once this is over, I'm going to visit the South Wind Ancient Country." After hesitating, Su Bei spoke. Perhaps all the answers would be in the South Wind Ancient Country: Dan Wulan's injury, the mysterious Li Zijun, the relationship between Devouring Heaven and those with Evil Qi, and the Southern Border.
"I will accompany you."
Su Bei shook his head, rejecting her. There might be danger ahead. With her still harboring injuries, staying at the Sword Sect was the best option.
"Go back."
Lanterns hung high. Su Bei smiled.
"Go back."
「The next day」
Su Bei, having not dreamed much, yawned and led his three disciples toward Azure Cloud Mountain.
Today's battle might just bring the final showdown earlier. Circle Sect would battle Dao Sect. Both were among the strongest Sects in the world, each possessing two Elders at the Half-Step into Dao Integration Realm. This was destined to be an earth-shattering struggle.
Atop the Ascension Platform, the most conspicuous figure was a middle-aged man in a scholar's robe. His eyes were closed, and he held a dust whisk, standing quietly.
The man opposite him looked serious as he gazed at him, the spear in his hand trembling.
"Make your move." The man with the dust whisk half-opened his eyes, looking indifferently at the person before him.
Su Bei knew that the man was Dao Sect's Elder Tong Xiu, acclaimed as the strongest beneath the Dao Integration Realm!
And across from him was Origin Sect's Elder Wei Tianqi, who had been immersed in the Half-Step into Dao Integration realm for over a century!
"Elder Tong is truly confident," Wei Tianqi lightly shook the spear in his hand, and the next moment he strode forward. Each step was as heavy as a mountain, leaving deep footprints on the ground. He swung the spearhead, and a myriad of illusory images surrounded him, thunder roaring and instantly tearing the sky!
"Three Harmonies Spear, Eight Directions Thunder Strike!"
The man in the scholar's robe, Tong Xiu, remained composed, not even stirring the dust whisk. He reached out a hand, fingers spreading into a palm, and gracefully caught the surging spearhead illusion in the air. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the spear illusion instantly shattered!
A deep gully nearly a thousand feet long appeared on the ground behind Tong Xiu. The aftershock caused varying degrees of collapse on the surrounding platforms, the howling sound merging into a thunderous roar!
CLANG—
Then, Tong Xiu waved his sleeve with nonchalance. The space three zhang in front of him suddenly blurred, seeming both real and illusory, much like a mirage that is both extremely near yet endlessly far—close enough to touch, and yet as distant as the horizon.
"So Near Yet So Far."
"Mirror Flower, Water Moon."
Another wave of his sleeve.
Spiritual Energy fell from the sky, pressing down so heavily that Wei Tianqi could not budge his spear even a fraction. Then, Elder Tong's calm words emerged, "I, Tong, am at Half-Step into Dao Integration because Half-Step into Dao Integration *is* the absolute peak beneath Dao Integration."
"..."
BOOM—
The sound of uproar instantly spread across the entire Azure Cloud Mountain, everyone watching the scene with disbelief.
Lin Duo from Wuhua Palace gazed deeply at Tong Xiu, murmuring to himself, "Can there really be such a huge difference, even among those at Half-Step into Dao Integration?"
"..."
Surrounding voices of discussion flooded in:
"HISS—"
"The number one beneath Dao Integration!"
"Can't even Elder Wei match a single move from Elder Tong?"
"This is too terrifying..."
"..."